The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 868 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Gallery - Episode 1: Call of the Starseed Game Cover
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In "The Gallery: Episode 1 - Call of the Starseed," players embark on a sci-fi adventure inspired by 80's fantasy films, searching for their twin sister who has left a mysterious message. The game boasts roomscale movement and interaction, and is set in a cosmic world filled with puzzles and eccentric characters. This is the first episode in the award-winning VR adventure series.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 868 reviews
story172 positive mentions
optimization8 negative mentions
  • The game offers a stunning visual experience and immersive atmosphere, making it one of the best VR experiences available.
  • The inventory system is innovative and intuitive, allowing for a natural interaction with the game world.
  • The story is engaging and leaves players eager for the next episode, with a compelling ending that adds to the overall experience.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
  • Some players experienced technical issues, including bugs and performance problems that affected gameplay.
  • The puzzles are generally easy and may not provide enough challenge for players looking for a more complex gaming experience.
  • story332 mentions

    The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing and immersive qualities, with many players appreciating the atmospheric setting and the gradual unfolding of the narrative through environmental storytelling and collectibles like tapes and notes. However, some reviewers criticize the story for being simplistic, vague, or lacking depth, particularly noting that the first episode feels more like a setup for future installments rather than a complete experience. Overall, while the story captivates many players and leaves them eager for the next episode, its brevity and episodic nature lead to mixed feelings about its value and replayability.

    • “The story is excellent and it is a benchmark for all other games, not just VR.”
    • “The atmosphere, the story, the music, the puzzles, it all comes together to create an amazing experience.”
    • “This game has an amazing atmosphere and story; I was hooked a couple of minutes in.”
    • “Pretentious storyline that cliffhangs you and has zero interaction with large periods of waiting.”
    • “The story is difficult to follow and not very engaging.”
    • “The nearly nonexistent story makes no sense and the characters have no depth.”
  • graphics170 mentions

    The graphics in this game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty and immersive quality, particularly in VR settings, while others note that they appear outdated or glitchy. Some players highlight the stunning environments, dynamic lighting, and overall polish, making it one of the best-looking VR titles available. However, there are also criticisms regarding performance issues and the need for better visual design in certain areas, suggesting that while the graphics are impressive, they may not meet the expectations set by newer titles.

    • “The graphics are truly impressive and the environments are immersive and very well designed.”
    • “Graphics are stunning, was surprised to see this was a Unity game.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely stellar, the story is incredibly intriguing and there is so much polish with this game's design.”
    • “The graphics are outdated and so is the gameplay.”
    • “Graphics constantly glitch or are illegible.”
    • “I cannot recommend this game for the price; the teleport system in this game is one of the least intuitive I have used, the graphics are muddy, the game performs very poorly, the character models seem off and small, the puzzles are easy, and there are very few of them.”
  • gameplay154 mentions

    Overall, the gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its short length (typically around 1.5 to 2.5 hours) and simplistic mechanics, which often include easy puzzles and limited interaction. While some praised the innovative VR mechanics, such as the backpack inventory system and immersive environments, others criticized the outdated graphics and clunky movement controls, leading to a perception that the game lacks substantial content for its price. Despite these criticisms, the game is recognized for its polished presentation and engaging story, making it a worthwhile experience for some players, particularly those new to VR.

    • “Another strong point of this game is puzzles - this game combines a great balance between puzzle complexity and amount/quality of tips and the use of VR mechanics.”
    • “The mechanics of this game really utilize VR controls and potential, something other games seem to struggle with sometimes.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics were really clever and I enjoyed solving the puzzles as well.”
    • “Only played about 30 minutes so far and want to state that the motion mechanics make it almost unplayable.”
    • “Gameplay is nearly non-existent.”
    • “The game itself is an adventure game, but is very light on gameplay.”
  • atmosphere60 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive graphics, sound design, and world-building elements that enhance the overall experience. Players often feel a strong sense of presence within the game, with the atmosphere described as both captivating and occasionally eerie, contributing to a compelling narrative. Despite some critiques regarding the brevity of gameplay and puzzle complexity, the game's atmospheric design remains a standout feature that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “The assets are gorgeous, the music is atmospheric, and the world-building is engrossing (you get a feel for the world through recordings, notes, and subtle hints).”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is incredible, the puzzles are challenging, and the audiolog storytelling is incredibly immersive.”
    • “This is an incredibly atmospheric game with intuitive controls and really good use of controller feedback throughout - everyone who's played this will agree that shooting off fireworks by the beach at the start feels amazing - and the set design is wonderful.”
    • “This episode begins a bit slowly, with the atmosphere seeming a bit understated.”
    • “Yes it is short, yes there isn't a whole lot of play elements, other than a few puzzles, but the atmosphere and environments really immerse you in the story.”
    • “The atmosphere... the music... the characters and the beautiful mystery into which they're drawn.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the contributions of renowned composer Jeremy Soule. Players appreciate the polished soundtrack, immersive sound design, and effective use of music to complement the narrative and gameplay, creating a captivating atmosphere that draws them into the world. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “The assets are gorgeous, the music is atmospheric, and the world-building is engrossing (you get a feel for the world through recordings, notes, and subtle hints).”
    • “The atmosphere, the story, the music, the puzzles, it all comes together to create an amazing experience.”
    • “Makes great use of VR novelties, and creates a very immersive and realistic atmosphere with great music and interesting voice acting.”
    • “The ending is a lot of eye candy and upbeat music, that contrasts with the gloomy main part of the game.”
    • “And the music .. what can I say :)”
    • “Jeremy Soule (Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind) did the soundtrack.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. While there are options to adjust graphics settings and some users report smooth performance on higher-end machines, many still note that the game is not well-optimized, especially for VR. Overall, there is hope for future improvements, but current performance remains inconsistent.

    • “Performance is very good on a minimum spec.”
    • “Considering the graphics, the performance of the game is great.”
    • “Graphically demanding, so I'm looking forward to further performance optimizations from the developers.”
    • “Definitely not optimized, or even nominally updated for use on an Oculus Rift.”
    • “I bought this game when it first came out, and had to refund it as it was stuttering like crazy no matter what I did.”
    • “Of all the VR games in my library, The Gallery had the least steady performance, leading to lots of frame skipping and nausea.”
  • stability21 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly with tracking and object interactions. While some players found the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, others experienced significant disruptions that affected their overall experience, leading to frustration and even returns. Overall, while the game is fun and immersive, it is marred by a notable number of technical problems that may detract from the experience for some players.

    • “This game is really buggy considering how highly recommended it is!”
    • “All my continuity feels broke and I just ... stopped and, mainly because of the buggy refresh and tracking, I returned it.”
    • “Also: there are some tracking glitches and the beach (firepit) area does have a very glitchy stutter making you motion sick, but looking straight up kind of fixes it when it gets bad.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for having virtually no replayability, with many players noting its short playtime of around one to two hours and a lack of engaging content to warrant multiple playthroughs. Reviewers suggest that the story-driven nature of the game limits its replay value, making it a poor investment at its current price point. Players recommend seeking alternatives that offer more substantial gameplay or replay options.

    • “Since there isn't a death mechanism, the difficulty of tasks is going to be key for replayability.”
    • “For a console game price, I expect 6-8 hours of playtime or immense replayability.”
    • “My argument goes: at least 5 games in the top 20 Vive games are a single scene, with low quality content but good replayability.”
    • “Absolutely no replay value.”
    • “The price is steep for around two hours of gameplay, and I don't think the game has much replay value.”
    • “Even admiring the beautiful environments didn't get me more than about an hour and a half of game time with no replayability beyond admiring the quality of the production.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as subtle and enjoyable, effectively complementing its adventure and mystery elements. Players appreciate the interesting characters and the balance of humor with suspense and exploration, although some feel the pricing may deter long-term engagement. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its other gameplay aspects, making for a fun experience.

    • “Humor is subtle and enjoyable, and the voices don't stick out as being particularly bad or unbelievable like some games.”
    • “A mysterious, beautiful adventure with some good humor thrown in.”
    • “This game had a great mix of humor, mystery, challenge, suspense, and exploration.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be unrealistic and tedious, with many expressing frustration over the repetitive puzzles and excessive backtracking. While some puzzles are easy, they often feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge, detracting from the overall experience. The game's short duration and high cost further amplify the dissatisfaction with the grinding elements.

    • “Completely unrealistic and tedious.”
    • “The game needs a lot more fun exploration and less tedious puzzles.”
    • “Very expensive, and the experience only lasts like two hours unless you are doing some of the tedious achievements.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players report a mixed emotional experience with the game, noting that while some puzzles evoke happiness and immersion, others can create discomfort. Despite this, those who appreciate emotionally charged narratives in gaming may find value in the experience, particularly in its potential for future chapters. Overall, the game is seen as a worthwhile investment for fans of emotionally engaging content.

    • “The last couple of levels really made me feel immersed.”
    • “However, if you love games that tug at your emotional cord, and don't mind paying for future chapters, Call of the Starseed is for you.”
    • “Goddamn, this short adventure just barely touches on what is possible with VR and is worth every single penny.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as exploitative, with users feeling it resembles a cash grab that overcharges for a subpar experience, likening it to a glorified demo rather than a full-fledged title.

    • “Is this a cynical cash grab from a company that is exploiting the launch of VR by overcharging for a glorified demo because they know people will buy it due to the lack of titles at launch?”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 29 analyzed playthroughs

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